Motor vehicle



Dec. 10, 1940.

A. M. WOLF 2,224,562

. MOTOR VEHICLE Original Filed April 7, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l NVENTORDec. 10, 1940'. A W F 2,224,562 I MOTOR VEHICLE Original Filed April 7,1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 10, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEDivided and this application October 10, 1938, Serial N0. 234,252

4 Claims.

This invention relates to motor vehicles and constitutes a division ofthe subject matter disclosed in an application for patent filed by me onApril '7, 1932, Ser. No. 603,701, now Patent No.

2,132,450, dated October 11, 1938.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an internalcombustion engine having a water circulating system associatedtherewith, the said engine and system adapted to be mounted ordismounted as a single unit with respect to the motor vehicle frame.

In one application thereof, the invention is particularly advantageousfor use in connection with motor vehicle coaches of the type in whichone or more motors or engines are mounted upon the rear end of thevehicle frame, and is primarily characterized by novel means formounting or supporting the engine or engines upon transversely disposedframe members whereby the engine may be easily and quickly displaced orremoved longitudinally of the frame and beyond the rear end of thevehicle body for convenience in making necessary adjustments or repairs.

It is also another object of the invention to provide the vehicle framewith a removable transverse member upon which the motors are mounted atone of their ends, and means individual to the motors and connectibletherewith for sustaining one of the motors when said transverse removalof the other motor.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a dolly ofsimple and novel construction for use in facilitating the easy and quickmounting or dismounting of the engine with respect to the Vehicle frame.

With the above and other objects in View, the invention consists in theimproved motor vehicle, and in the form, construction and relativearrangement of the several parts, as will hereinafter be more fullydescribed, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and subsequentlyincorporated' in the subjoined claims.

In the drawings wherein I have illustrated several simple, and practicalembodiments of my present invention, and in which similar referencecharacters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing an internal combustion engine withits cooling system mounted at the rear end of the motor vehicle body, inaccordance with one embodiment of the invention, certain of the partsbeing shown in section.

frame member is detached in order to permit the Fig. 2 is a rearelevation, one of the engine radiators being partly broken away.

Fig. 3 is a front end elevation.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a dolly with the engine supported thereonfor movement to or 5 from its mounted position on the vehicle frame.

Fig. 5 is an end elevation thereof.

Fig. 6 is a front end elevation similar to Fig. 3 showing a slightlymodified mounting for the front ends of the motors, and,

Fig. 7 is a detail elevation of the spacer member which is substitutedfor one of the engines or motors of Fig. 6 when the latter is removed.

Referring in detail to the drawings and for the present moreparticularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 thereof, 5 designates a portion of themotor vehicle body, and, in the present instance represents the rear endportion of a coach body, which overhangs the rear end of the vehicleframe or chassis to provide an engine receiving compartment, indicatedat 6. The rear end of this compartment is normally closed by a suitabledoor I having a grill or reticulated section in alignment with the watercirculating radiator of the motor, to be presently referred to.

The vehicle frame or chassis includes transversely spaced longitudinallyextending frame members 8 which are rigidly connected at suitably spacedintervals by transverse frame members one of which is indicated at 9. Inrearwardly spaced relation from the frame member 9 a depending bracketHl is secured to each of the longitudinal members 8 and to thesebrackets the opposite ends of a removable transverse member II aredetachably secured by'suitable bolts l2.

For purposes of illustration I have shown a pair of internal combustionengines I 3 and I4 respectively, adapted to be mounted and ar-' arrangedin side by side relation within the compartment 6. Each of these enginesis provided with a dependent cooling system which includes a watercirculating radiator l 5. At its lower end the radiator is supported bysuitably spaced bracket arms [6 bolted to the engine cylinder block, asat H. Preferably rubber mountings It are interposed between the bracketarms and the base of the radiator to absorb or cushion vertical movementof the radiator resulting from engine vibration. At its upper end, eachradiator is rigidly braoed and supported from the engine cylinder blockby the connecting rod IQ. of course the usual hose connections areprovided between the upper and lower ends of the radiator cor and theengine cylinder jackets.

The engine cylinder block 'is formed or provided at the front endthereof with transversely spaced foot members 20, said foot members andinterposed cushioning blocks of rubber 2| being suitably bolted to theopposite ends of a horizontal top flange of the mounting bracket 22, thevertical flange of which is detachably secured to the removable memberII by the bolt 23. As illustrated, I have shown the top flange of thisbracket in superimposed contact with the frame 'II so that a single bolt23 may be used for connecting the mounting bracket to said frame member,with assurance against any tilting or pivoting movement of said bracket.

Each of the engines I3 and I4 is provided at its rear end with theconventional bell-housing 24, to opposite sides of which the upper endsof supporting brackets 25 are rigidly secured. At

their lower ends these brackets are provided with rearwardly extendinglongitudinally tapered gudgeons 26 upon which internally tapered sleeves2'! are fitted. Supporting brackets 28 project upwardly from thetransverse frame member 9 and between the annular upper ends 29 of thesebrackets and the sleeves 21, the rubber bushings 33 are interposed. Abolt 3| extends through the gudgeon 2B and by means of the adjustablenut 32 threaded on this bolt said gudgeon and the sleeve 21 are retainedin rigidly assembled relation.

In order to facilitate the movement of the engine to and from itsassembled position on the vehicle frame, I provide the dolly illustratedin Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings. As shown, two similar members 33 ofinverted U-shaped form have their upper intermediate portions rotatablyengaged in thetransverse sleeves 34 suitably fixed to the opposite endsof a cradle 35. This cradle receives the engine crankcase, the sidewalls of said cradle, at their upper ends, having bearing contact withthe crank-case flange 36. t

The legs of each member 33 are provided at their lower ends with groundengaging wheels 31, and said legs intermediate of their ends areprovided with T-fittings 38 in which the opposite ends of a cross-rod 39are rotatably supported. These cross-rods of the two members 33 areconnected by a rod 43 having spaced right and left hand threadedsections, as shown, in engagement with the respective cross-rods. It isthus apparent that when the rod 40 is rotated by means of the hand crankM at one end thereof, the mem bers 33 will be relatively moved to orfrom positions in vertical parallel relation so that the engine,supported in the cradle 35, will be raised or lowered accordingly.

Assuming that it is desired to remove one of the engines from itsmounted position, for instance the engine I3, the connection between thetransmission and the propeller shaft is first broken, said shaft restingupon the rear axle housing, and the door or cover I of the enginecompartment is then swung to its open position, as indicated in dottedlines in Fig. 1. The dolly or hand truck, as shown in Fig, 4, is thenplaced in position beneath the engine I3 and the adjusting rod 40operated to raise the cradle 35until it contacts with the flange 36..The bolts 3| are then removed, as well as the bolt 23 which secures themounting bracket 22 to the frame member II. Each of the engines isprovided at the top thereof and at its'forward end with an eyebolt 42with whicha hook 43 is adapted to be detachably engaged. This hook isconnected by a turnbuckle 44 withrod 45. attached to the vehicle body 5by bracket 46. A second bracket 41 on the vehicle body removablysupports the hook 43 when the latter is not in use. One of theseadjustable supporting hooks is provided for each of the engines and thehook is engaged through the eye-bolt 42 of the engine I4 and thetumbuckle 44 is rotated in order to take the weight of the engine fromthe transverse frame member I I. The bolt 23 of this mounting bracket isnow also removed. Due to the provision of the rubber bushings 3D in thefront end mountings of the engine, this slight vertical movement of therear end of the engine I4 with its radiator I5 is permissible withoutdisturbing said front end mountings, as flexibility thereof allows forsuch slight angular tilting of the engine.

Since the weight of the engine has now been relieved from the transverseframe member II, the bolts I2 at opposite ends thereof can be taken outto disconnect said member from the brackets It so that said member canbe removed. Engine I3 now being supported entirely upon the cradle 35 ofthe dolly, said dolly is drawn rearwardly frombeneath the vehicle frameand as all obstructions have been removed, the engine together with itscooling system will be horizontally or longitudinally withdrawn from theengine compartment to a position beyond the rear end of the vehiclebody. In this manner, I avoid the loss of time and labor incident to thebreaking of the water hose connections between the radiator and theengine cylinder jackets.

In replacing the engine, it is first mounted upon the cradle 35 of thedolly with the supporting members 33 therefor in the relative positionsshown in Fig. 4, and then wheeled back into position between the framemembers 8, and the tapered gudgeons 26 enter the respective sleeves 2iand said movement being continued until there is full bearing contactbetween the tapered surfaces of the gudgeons and the sleeves. Bolts 3iare then replaced and tightened. The transverse frame member II is nowarranged in position and rigidly connected with brackets II] by thebolts I2, and the cradle 35 of the dolly then lowered so that the frontmounting bracket 22 is again positioned upon the member I I. Theconnecting bolt 23 is now replaced. The hook 43 is now disengaged fromthe eye-bolt 42 of engine I4 by adjusting the turnbuckle 44, and whenthe weight of the engine is fully upon the frame member II, the otherbolt 23 isreplaced to rigidly connect the front end mounting of theengine I3 to said frame member.

In Fig. 6 of the drawings, I show a rigid mounting for the front ends ofthe two engines or motors, in which the said engines in addition tobeing rigidly connected to the frame are also rigidly connected to eachother. Thus I provide upon the longitudinal frame members 8 theupstanding brackets 48 which are adapted to be detachably bolted as at49 to mating portions formed on the outer sides of the bell-housings ofthe respective motors. At their inner sides, these bell-housings carrythe mating brackets 50 adapted to be detachably bolted together as at5|.

Each bell-housing is further provided at its base with a boss 52 whichis connected by a bracket 53 with the transverse frame member 9. In thismanner, it will be evident that a completely rigid transverse connectionis established through the front ends of the engines or motors betweenthe spaced longitudinal frame members 8.

Either one of the two motors or engines may be easily and quicklyremoved, and it is, thereeither engine may be removed and the operationof the bus continued with the other engine. In order that this may bedone, in the construction shown in Fig. 6, when one engine is removed,the spacer bar d shown in Fig. '7, is inserted between one of the framebrackets Q3 and the bracket member 50 on the remaining engine, theopposite ends of said spacer bar being properly formed to mate with saidbrackets andv receive the connecting bolts, 49 and 5! respectively.

From the foregoing description, considered in connection with theaccompanying drawings, it will be seen that I have devised a simplyconstructed and reliable means whereby one or more engines or motors maybe easily and quickly removed from or replaced in its mounted positionupon the vehicle frame. By providing the engine or motor with its watercirculating radiator in the form of a permanently assembled unit, Ireduce to a minimum the number of parts which must be disconnected inremoving the motor. Therefore, when replacements are available, adisabled motor may be removed and replaced by another motor without lossof time or serious interruption of the time schedule of the motor coachor bus. Since the two engines or motors are independently operable todrive the rear wheel axle, as disclosed in my issued patent, if areplacement motor is not available, the disabled engine can be removedfor repairs and operation of the coach or bus continued with theremaining motor.

In the above description, I have referred to several practical andsatisfactory means for mounting the motors upon the vehicle frame. Itis, however, to be understood that the essential features of my presentdisclosure might also be exemplified in numerous other alternativestructural forms. Accordingly, the privilege is reserved or resorting toall such legitimate changes in the form, construction and relativearrangement of the several parts, a may fairly be comprehended withinthe spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Iclaim:

1. In combination with a motor vehicle frame having longitudinal framemembers and a transverse connecting member therebetween, an internalcombustion engine, means for demountably supporting said engine at oneend upon said transverse frame member, means for demountably supportingthe engine at its other end, including a supporting member and meansremovably securing said member to the vehicle frame, and additionalmeans carried by the vehicle for temporarily supporting the engineindependently of said supporting member to permit removal of said memberwith respect to the engine and of the engine with respect to the vehicleframe.

2. In combination with a motor vehicle frame having transversely spacedlongitudinal frame members, a pair of engines, and means forindependently removably mounting said engines in transverse alignmentbetween said frame members, including means for detachably and rigidlyconnecting each engine at its outer side to one of said frame members,mating members on the inner sides of said engines and means fordetachably connecting the same with each other, and a rigid spacingmember adapted to replace either engine when removed and having means atits opposite ends for connection with said mating member of the otherengine and with one of said frame members, respectively.

3. In combination with a motor vehicle frame having longitudinal framemembers and spaced transverse connecting members between the rear endsof said longitudinal frame members, a power 'unit horizontally movableto and from its apcontact with the rear side of the rear transverseframe member, means for detachably connecting said element with saidmember, means for removably securing the rear transverse frame member tothe longitudinal frame members, and means on the vehicle adapted to beconnected with the power unit to temporarily support the same prior toits horizontal displacement relative to the vehicle frame.

4. In combination with a motor vehicle frame having longitudinal framemembers and spaced transverse connecting members between the rear endsof said longitudinal frame members, a power unit horizontally movable toand from its applied position with respect to said transverse framemembers, means on the forward transverse frame member and the front endof said power unit for demountably supporting the latter at transverselyspaced points, a supporting element carried by the rear end of saidunit, means for detachably connecting said element with said reartransverse frame member, means for removably securing the latter framemember at its opposite ends to said longitudinal frame members, andmeans on the vehicle adapted to be connected with the power unit andsupport the rear end thereof independently of said rear transverse framemember while the latter is disconnected from said supporting element andremoved from the vehicle frame prior to the horizontal displacement ofthe power unit relative to said frame.

AUSTIN M. WOLF.

